(originally posted 12/28/11) The joys of modern technology and You Tube! I’ve always wanted to ride in the cab of a train, and what better ride to do it (virtually) on than the famous Norwegian Bergensbanen. One of the wonders of the railway age, the 300 mile track from Bergen to Oslo crosses over the Hardangervidda plateau at 1,237 meters (4,058 ft) above sea level, also known as Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back.

I came across this last February, when I was starting Curbside Classic, and working 14-16 hour days. I would watch a half hour or so at a time, as a calming and meditative transition from work to sleep. Very effective, and addicting too. I realize not everyone is going to be able to make the ride non-stop. And make sure you put it in full screen. Also, this is a re-mix with electronic music, most of which works well enough. The videos are stacked up after the jump. Happy Journeys!
Part 13 (above) is an edited compilation of the whole trip, so if you’re in a hurry…it’s also is the only one with the actual start in Bergen station, which for some reason is missing from the beginning of Part 1)

I had the great fortune to make this trip in reverse, Oslo to Bergen, in March ’08. I didn’t get up front, however. It is a spectacularly beautiful journey! We enjoyed seeing people at a station greet departing passengers, hand them skiis, and ski off together over the countryside. Very few cars, many skiers, homes buried to the eaves in snow, with holes dug at the front door for access, and ski tracks leading to and from.

Ah, the wrong time, the wrong place. A couple of years ago, if you had graced the Ohio area, I could have finagled you a cab ride on a hot TOFC unit-train. Willard Ohio to Buffalo, New York…60 mph most places, in the newest GE AC units.

Ah, but times change, and circumstances also. I’m relegated to yard work, with a short line now…no more high-speed runs for me.

Wow, beautiful. I truly do miss taking the train into Berlin or Prague; and will never forget my train ride throughout Italy. Going into Venice was an absolutely mind-blowing experience; at times it felt as though the train was floating above the Mediterranean’s beautiful blue water.

I picked up a new Volvo at the factory in Gothenburg about 3 years after this wonderful film was made. Drove it to Oslo with the plan of driving to Bergen (after my plan of Salmon fishing fell through).

It was late April and everyone I asked in Oslo said the road was wide open, “No problem at all, its our main highway!” And why not, the weather was quite mild in the capital city.

About half way across it began to snow. Then it began to really snow and then snow even harder. I had ordered the car equipped with snow tires from the factory, so kept motoring on, even as the road grew narrower and narrower on each side, not unlike some of the stretches in the film. After all, the natives assured me the road was wide open.

Eventually, however, proving that even locals don’t always get it right, I ran out of road and came up short before an immense wall of snow blocking the highway, with various snow eating machines nibbling around at its base.

Bergen still remains a mystery to me.

Incidentally, if any curbsters want to “see” Norway on the cheap they could settle for New Hampshire. Particularly through the notches. The scenery is remarkably similar.

Incidental point number two. That very same Volvo was sold a year and a half later in, of all places, Eugene, Oregon.

So, Paul, if you ever run across a dark green Volvo 122S wagon with twin rear view mirrors perched on the front fenders, you will know a little bit of its history.

Nice story; but I’m a bit confused. Since this video was shot in 2009, how did you come to buy a new Volvo 122S wagon at the factory? They found an old left-over in a warehouse? Or was there an earlier version of this documentary?

Either way, I’ll keep an eye out, but I suspect it’s gone. There’s a fetching pink one around though:

I’m glad you asked this question…. i was just doing a google search for what I thought was a ‘european’ only volvo model… and was quite surprised to see a venerable wagon from the middle sixties…. d’uh!

Purchasing a Volvo in Gothenburg is still possible (according to our Volvo salesperson) as none of the models are yet built in China. Can someone corroborate that ?

Great films remunds me of driving the cabover truck I was in stereo on and just the picture in front of you and just wheeling thru the turns I kept trying to look in the mirrors to see what the trailers were doing very reminiscent of climbing out of the Waipunga gorge onto the central plateau and into the snow click the diff locks in and stay on the rev limiter and steer following the two wheel tracks thru the snow, Euro trucks can drive at full speed with interaxle locks engaged unlike American trucks diff locks only engage in low box. Must watch anothe tonite before my data cap kicks in.

In the mid 60s, my sister went to Norway as an exchange student. She enjoyed it so much she went back for a year as a teacher at the school she attended. She goes back every few years to visit with the families she stayed with 50 years ago and keeps in touch with them between visits.